Wikipedia

List of best-selling singles

Wikimedia music-related list
(Redirected from List of best-selling singles worldwide)

This is a list of best-selling singles in the world. The Guinness World Records named the holiday single "White Christmas" (1942) by Bing Crosby as the best-selling single worldwide. According to Guinness, "White Christmas" sold over 50 million copies. The single is known as the "best-selling single of all time". It was released before music charts were created. The song "Candle in the Wind 1997"/"Something About the Way You Look Tonight" (1997) by Elton John, is "the biggest-selling single since UK and US singles charts began in the 1950s". The recording was a tribute to Princess Diana. It sold 33 million copies, making it the third best-selling single of all time.

Best-selling physical singles

change

15 million physical copies or more

change
Artist Single Released Sales
(in millions)		 Source
Bing Crosby "White Christmas" 1942 50
Elton John "Candle in the Wind 1997" 1997 33
Mungo Jerry "In the Summertime" 1970 30[disputed – discuss] [1][2][3]
Bill Haley & His Comets "Rock Around the Clock" 1954 25 [4]
Whitney Houston "I Will Always Love You" 1992 20 [5]
Elvis Presley "It's Now or Never" 1960 20 [6][7]
USA for Africa "We Are the World" 1985 20 [8]
The Ink Spots "If I Didn't Care" 1939 19[disputed – discuss] [9]
Baccara "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" 1977 18[disputed – discuss] [10]
Celine Dion "My Heart Will Go On" 1997 18 [11]
Mariah Carey "All I Want for Christmas Is You" 1994 16 [12]
Bryan Adams "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" 1991 15 [13]
John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John "You're the One That I Want" 1978 15 [14]
Scorpions "Wind of Change" 1991 15[disputed – discuss] [15]

10–14.9 million copies

change
Artist Single Released Sales
(in millions)		 Source
The Andrews Sisters "Bei Mir" 1937 14 [16]
Prince Nico Mbarga "Sweet Mother" 1976 13 [17]
Kyu Sakamoto "Sukiyaki" 1963 13 [18]
Trio "Da Da Da" 1982 13[disputed – discuss] [19]
Gene Autry "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" 1949 12.5 [20]
The Beatles "I Want to Hold Your Hand" 1963 12 [6]
Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman "Time to Say Goodbye" 1996 12 [21]
Village People "Y.M.C.A." 1978 12 [22]
Band Aid "Do They Know It's Christmas?" 1984 11.7 [23]
Cher "Believe" 1998 11 [24][25]
Carl Douglas "Kung Fu Fighting" 1974 11 [26][27]
George McCrae "Rock Your Baby" 1974 11 [6]
Mills Brothers "Paper Doll" 1943 11 [6]
Roger Whittaker "The Last Farewell" 1975 11 [28]
Bing Crosby "Silent Night" 1935 10 [29]
ABBA "Fernando" 1976 10 [30]
Roy Acuff "Wabash Cannonball" 1942 10 [6]
Paul Anka "Diana" 1957 10 [31][32]
Toni Braxton "Un-Break My Heart" 1996 10 [33]
George Harrison "My Sweet Lord" 1970 10 [34]
Los del Río "Macarena" 1995 10 [35]
Middle of the Road "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" 1971 10 [6]
The Monkees "I'm a Believer" 1966 10 [6][36]
Panjabi MC "Mundian To Bach Ke" 1998 10[disputed – discuss] [37]
Patti Page "Tennessee Waltz" 1950 10 [38][39][40]
The Penguins "Earth Angel" 1954 10 [41]
Elvis Presley "Hound Dog" 1956 10 [42]
Procol Harum "A Whiter Shade of Pale" 1967 10 [6]
Britney Spears "...Baby One More Time" 1998 10 [43]


Best-selling digital singles

change

15 million digital copies or more

change
Artist Single Released Sales
(in millions)		 Source
Ed Sheeran "Shape of You" 2017 41.5[b] [44][45]
Luis Fonsi featuring Daddy Yankee "Despacito" 2017 36.1[b] [44][45]
Xiao Zhan "光点 (Spotlight)" 2020 33[b] [46]
Rihanna featuring Drake "Work" 2016 32.5[b] [47]
The Weeknd "Blinding Lights" 2019 21.7 [48]
The Chainsmokers and Coldplay "Something Just like This" 2017 21.5[b] [44][45]
Ed Sheeran "Perfect" 2017 21.4[b] [44][45]
Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth "See You Again" 2015 20.9[b] [49]
The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey "Closer" 2016 20.7[b] [50][44]
Adele "Rolling in the Deep" 2011 20.6 [51][52][53]
Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars "Uptown Funk" 2014 20.0[b] [49]
Billie Eilish "Bad Guy" 2019 19.5[b] [54]
Ed Sheeran "Thinking Out Loud" 2014 19.5[b] [49]
Camila Cabello featuring Young Thug "Havana" 2017 19.0[b] [44][45]
Lil Nas X "Old Town Road" 2018 18.4[b] [54]
Carly Rae Jepsen "Call Me Maybe" 2011 18.0 [55]
Adele "Someone Like You" 2011 17.0 [56]
Rihanna "Needed Me" 2016 17.0[b] [47]
Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello "Señorita" 2019 16.1[b] [54]
Drake "God's Plan" 2018 15.3[b] [45]
Rihanna "Love on the Brain" 2016 15.0[b] [47]

10–14.99 million copies

change
Artist Single Released Sales
(in millions)		 Source
Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell "Blurred Lines" 2013 14.8[b] [57]
Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera "Moves Like Jagger" 2011 14.4 [58]
Kesha "Tik Tok" 2009 14 [59]
Lady Gaga "Poker Face" 2008 14 [60]
Pharrell Williams "Happy" 2013 13.9[b] [61]
Psy "Gangnam Style" 2012 13.5 [62][63]
Maroon 5 "Sugar" 2015 13.5[b] [49]
Post Malone and Swae Lee "Sunflower" 2018 13.4[b] [54]
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz "Thrift Shop" 2012 13.4[b] [57]
Ariana Grande "7 Rings" 2019 13.3[b] [54]
Katy Perry featuring Juicy J "Dark Horse" 2013 13.2[b] [61]
Major Lazer & DJ Snake featuring MØ "Lean On" 2015 13.1[b] [49]
Gotye featuring Kimbra "Somebody That I Used to Know" 2011 13 [64]
Ellie Goulding "Love Me like You Do" 2015 12.6[b] [49]
Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla "One Dance" 2016 12.5[b] [50]
Bruno Mars "Just the Way You Are" 2010 12.5 [65]
Adele "Hello" 2015 12.3[b] [49]
John Legend "All of Me" 2013 12.3[b] [61]
Jason Mraz "I'm Yours" 2008 12.2 [66][67][68][69]
Flo Rida featuring Kesha "Right Round" 2009 12 [70]
Flo Rida featuring T-Pain "Low" 2007 12 [71]
Lady Gaga "Bad Romance" 2009 12 [72]
Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B "Girls Like You" 2018 11.9[b] [45]
Justin Bieber "Love Yourself" 2015 11.7[b] [50]
Tones and I "Dance Monkey" 2019 11.4[b] [54]
Avicii featuring Aloe Blacc "Wake Me Up" 2013 11.1[b] [57]
Sia featuring Sean Paul "Cheap Thrills" 2016 11.1[b] [50]
Meghan Trainor "All About That Bass" 2014 11[b] [61]
Tia Ray "Be Apart" 2018 10.9[b] [45]
Idina Menzel "Let It Go" 2013 10.9[b] [61]
Justin Bieber "Sorry" 2015 10.8[b] [50]
Lukas Graham "7 Years" 2015 10.4[b] [50]
Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber "I Don't Care" 2019 10.3[b] [54]
Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper "Shallow" 2018 10.2[b] [54]
Bruno Mars "Grenade" 2010 10.2 [65]
The Chainsmokers featuring Daya "Don't Let Me Down" 2016 10.2[b] [50]
Lorde "Royals" 2013 10 [73]
Bruno Mars "Grenade" 2010 10.2 [65]
Mike Posner "I Took a Pill in Ibiza" 2015 10[b] [50]
Shakira featuring Freshlyground "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" 2010 10 [74]
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean "Hips Don't Lie" 2006 10 [75]
Lady Gaga featuring Colby O'Donis "Just Dance" 2008 10 [76]

Notes

change
  • a.^ Sales figure includes digital sales.
  • b.^ Sales figure includes 'equivalent track streams'.
  • c.^ Sales figure includes physical sales.
  • d.^ Sales figure includes ringback tone sales not counted by the IFPI.

References

change
  1. ↑ Harris, Craig. "Ray Dorset – Artist Biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  2. ↑ "The essential summer mix". The Guardian. 29 July 2006. Archived from the original on 24 July 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  3. ↑ Nightingale, Laura (7 October 2015). "Mungo Jerry celebrates 45 years of In the Summertime at Camberley Theatre". Get Surrey. Archived from the original on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  4. ↑ Barnett, David C. (1 July 2000). "(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock". NPR. Retrieved 9 October 2020. Since its release more than 40 years ago, "Rock Around the Clock" has sold over 25 million copies in over 30 languages.
  5. ↑ Geller, Wendy (21 February 2014). "It Was 40 Years Ago: Dolly Parton Bids Adieu to Porter Wagoner, Writes 'I Will Always Love You'". Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 Murrells 1978, p. 395.
  7. ↑ Martin, Douglas (5 December 2009). "Aaron Schroeder, Writer of Hit Songs for Elvis Presley, Dies at 83". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 17 December 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  8. ↑ Breznican, Anthony (30 June 2009). "The many faces of Michael Jackson". USA Today. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2009.
  9. ↑ "Songwriters Friends: The Ink Spots". Songwriters Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 23 July 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  10. ↑ "Frank Dostal – In Memoriam". CIAM. 24 April 2017. Archived from the original on 1 January 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  11. ↑ Rosenberg, Sari (28 February 2018). "February 28, 1998: Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" Soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Lifetime. Archived from the original on 29 July 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  12. ↑ Waters, Lowenna (10 October 2017). "10 of the best Mariah Carey songs". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  13. ↑ Pareles, Jon (8 March 1994). "Review/Pop; Bryan Adams, More Mr. Nice Guy". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  14. ↑ Lachno, James (18 December 2017). "The 50 best pop songs written for movies". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 20 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  15. ↑ Bienstock, Richard (2 September 2015). "Scorpions' "Wind of Change": The Oral History of 1990's Epic Power Ballad". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  16. ↑ Sforza, John (2015). Swing It!: The Andrews Sisters Story. University Press of Kentucky. p. 29. ISBN 978-0-8131-4897-7.
  17. ↑ "Prince Nico Mbara". Nigeria Exchange. Archived from the original on 30 December 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  18. ↑ 坂本九さん 〜心のふるさと・笠間〜. Kasama Tourist (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 7 April 2017. Retrieved 9 December 2020.()
  19. ↑ "Laut.de Biography – Trio" (in German). Archived from the original on 13 July 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  20. ↑ Jackson, Kenneth T. (15 August 1998). The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives. Vol. 1. Gale. p. 550. ISBN 9780684804927. ...while Autry's version of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" sold more than 12.5 million copies
  21. ↑ "Andrea Bocelli". Decca Records. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012.
  22. ↑ "Glenn Hughes". The Daily Telegraph. London. 16 March 2001. Archived from the original on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
  23. ↑ McFarlen, Donald (1988). The Guinness Book of World Records, 1989. Jim Pattison Group. pp. 155–156. ISBN 9780806902760.
  24. ↑ "Throwback Thursday: 'Believe' by Cher, the song that brought you Auto-Tune [LISTEN]". Music Times. 13 March 2014. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  25. ↑ Napsha, Cheryl; Berman, Connie (2001). "1: And the Beat Goes On". Cher. Infobase Publishing. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-79105-907-4.
  26. ↑ Ellis, James (27 October 2009). "Biddu". Metro. Archived from the original on 6 December 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  27. ↑ Browne, Malika (20 August 2004). "It's a big step from disco to Sanskrit chants, but Biddu has made it". The Sunday Times. London. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  28. ↑ "Roger Whittaker". BBC Hereford and Worcester. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2009.
  29. ↑ Berg, Marita (15 December 2013). "Silent Night". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  30. ↑ Tagg, Philip (2000). Fernando the Flute. MMMSP. ISBN 978-0-9701684-1-2. Archived from the original on 25 December 2010. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  31. ↑ Bush, John. "Paul Anka – Artist Biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2 May 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  32. ↑ Larkin 2006, "Anka, Paul".
  33. ↑ Pitt, Ivan L. (2010). Economic Analysis of Music Copyright: Income, Media and Performances. Springer. p. 125. ISBN 978-1-4419-6317-8.
  34. ↑ Inglis, Ian (2010). The Words and Music of George Harrison. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-313-37532-3.
  35. ↑ The Guinness Book of Records 1999. Guinness World Records Limited. 1998. p. 241. ISBN 0-85112-070-9. More than 4 million copies of the single were sold in the US alone, and more than 10 million were sold around the globe.
  36. ↑ LaBlanc, Michael L. (1989). Contemporary Musicians: Profiles of the People in Music. Gale Research. ISBN 9780810322110.
  37. ↑ Wartofsky, Alona (13 July 2003). "Rap's Fresh Heir". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  38. ↑ "Songwriters Friends: Patti Page". Songwriters Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 12 June 2008. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  39. ↑ "Patti Page". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  40. ↑ "Tennessee Waltz singer Patti Page dies". The Daily Telegraph. London. 2 January 2013. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  41. ↑ Martin, Douglas (14 November 2012). "Cleve Duncan, the Voice of 'Earth Angel', Dies". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 21 February 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  42. ↑ Tyler, Don (2008). Music of the Postwar Era. ABC-CLIO. p. 226. ISBN 9780313341915.
  43. ↑ Place, Clarissa (20 April 2012). "Ten Things About... Britney Spears". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 26 May 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2012.
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 44.3 44.4 44.5 "Global Top 10 Digital Singles of 2017", IFPI Global Music Report 2018 (PDF), International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, p. 9, archived (PDF) from the original on 24 April 2018, retrieved 24 April 2018
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 45.4 45.5 45.6 45.7 "Havana by Camila Cabello (featuring Young Thug) named best-selling single of 2018". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. 6 March 2019. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  46. ↑ Mahyuni, Erna (2 May 2020). "China's Xiao Zhan sets record with 33m downloads of digital single 'Light Spot'". The Malay Mail. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 47.2 Kaufman, Gil (January 29, 2021). "Rihanna Wishes Herself a 'Happy #ANTIversary' with Throwback Pics". Billboard. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  48. ↑ "The Weeknd wins 2020's IFPI Global Digital Single Award for Blinding Lights". IFPI. 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 49.2 49.3 49.4 49.5 49.6 "Global Top 10 Digital Singles 2015", IFPI Global Music Report 2016: State of the Industry (PDF), International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, p. 7, archived (PDF) from the original on 30 July 2016, retrieved 13 April 2018
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 50.2 50.3 50.4 50.5 50.6 50.7 "Global Top 10 Digital Singles of 2016", IFPI Global Music Report 2017: Annual State of the Industry (PDF), International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, p. 9, archived (PDF) from the original on 26 April 2017, retrieved 13 April 2018
  51. ↑ Eftink, Jim (25 May 2018). "This week in music: 2011 Adele". KFVS-TV. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  52. ↑ Seun, Adeola (17 June 2018). "What Is Adele's Net Worth Now, Years After Rolling in the Deep Release?". Just Richest. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  53. ↑ Walter, Abby (14 September 2020). "The very best songs from across four generations: 1940s-2010s". Tone Deaf. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 54.2 54.3 54.4 54.5 54.6 54.7 Cirisano, Tatiana (10 March 2020). "Billie Eilish's 'Bad Guy' Named IFPI's Biggest Global Single of 2019". Billboard. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  55. ↑ Coscarelli, Joe (31 July 2015). "Carly Rae Jepsen, With a New Album, Is Definitely Changing Her Number". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  56. ↑ "Adele: Someone like you". Bitesize. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  57. ↑ 57.0 57.1 57.2 "Top Global Singles", IFPI Digital Music Report 2014 (PDF), International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, 18 March 2015, p. 15, archived (PDF) from the original on 18 March 2014, retrieved 18 March 2015
  58. ↑ Goldstein, Jessica (3 April 2014). "Pharrell and The Voice: Which Musicians Have Benefited the Most From Being TV Judges?". Vulture.com. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  59. ↑ "Ke$ha's 'Warrior': The Billboard Cover Story". Billboard. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  60. ↑ Sobel, Barbara (11 April 2019). "Lady Gaga's 'Poker Face' Was Number 1 Ten Years Ago Today [Video]". Guardian Liberty Voice. Archived from the original on 23 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  61. ↑ 61.0 61.1 61.2 61.3 61.4 "Global Top Digital Singles of 2014", IFPI Digital Music Report 2015 (PDF), International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, 14 April 2015, p. 12, archived (PDF) from the original on 14 November 2017, retrieved 13 April 2018
  62. ↑ "Global Top Selling Digital Singles of 2012", IFPI Digital Music Report 2013 (PDF), International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, 26 February 2013, p. 12, archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2013, retrieved 26 February 2013
  63. ↑ "Gaon Download Chart : 2012년" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on 28 February 2014.
  64. ↑ Brandle, Lars (30 November 2012). "Gotye, Kimbra Win Big at ARIA Awards". Billboard. Archived from the original on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  65. ↑ 65.0 65.1 65.2 "The Global Top Selling Digital Singles of 2011", IFPI Digital Music Report 2012 (PDF), International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, 23 January 2012, p. 7, archived (PDF) from the original on 5 December 2016, retrieved 13 April 2018
  66. ↑ "Gaon Download Chart – 2012년" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013.
  67. ↑ "Top 10 Digital Songs 2009", IFPI Digital Music Report 2010 (PDF), International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, p. 10, archived (PDF) from the original on 26 March 2012, retrieved 13 April 2018
  68. ↑ "Gaon Download Chart – 2010년" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. 10 February 2011. Archived from the original on 15 October 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  69. ↑ "Gaon Download Chart – 2011년" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013.
  70. ↑ "Flo Rida Has A 'Good Feeling'; International Megastar's Smash Single Certified Platinum, Becoming the Rapper's Sixth Platinum Single in the U.S." Atlantic Records. 10 January 2012. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2015 – via Warner Music Group.
  71. ↑ "Flo Rida "Whistles" to the Top of the Charts". Atlantic Records. 16 August 2012. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2015 – via Warner Music Group.
  72. ↑ Stern, Bradley (18 November 2014). "Lady Gaga's 'The Fame Monster' Turns 5: Stan & Deliver". Idolator. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  73. ↑ Nippert, Matt (7 November 2014). "Birthday girl Lorde's earnings estimated at $11m-plus". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  74. ↑ Cantor-Navas, Judy (1 October 2012). "Pitbull Vs. Shakira: Whose World Cup Song Is Better? (Poll)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  75. ↑ "Shakira to Release Special U.S. Edition of Her Hit Album She Wolf" (Press release). PR Newswire. 18 November 2009. Archived from the original on 4 June 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
  76. ↑ McCrea, Brad (8 April 2018). "Lady Gaga's 'Just Dance' Turns 10". iHeartRadio. Archived from the original on 23 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.

Bibliography

change
Retrieved from "https://simple.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_best-selling_singles&oldid=9494949"